Illegal Immigration is a Humanitarian Issue

I agree with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's opinions on immigration. According to the AFP:
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva issued a law giving tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants legal status and criticized rich nations for taking a tough stance against illegal migrants....

"In our eyes, repression, discrimination and intolerance do not address the root of the problem," he said.

"Illegal immigration is a humanitarian question that should not be confused with criminality," added the Brazilian leader, who was wearing the traditional clothes of Bolivia and Paraguay, the home countries of many of Brazil's immigrants.

The law issued by Lula allows all undocumented foreigners who entered Brazil before last February to obtain two-year provisional residency permits that can be made permanent.

All recipients will be entitled to work and receive public education and healthcare.

Brazil's Justice Department says there are around 60,000 undocumented foreigners in the country, but non-governmental groups believe the number could be as high as 200,000 illegal immigrants, with most coming from Latin America and China.

More Americans should make an effort to make friends with folks around the world to broaden theirperspectives. We need to learn to live together peacefully. The USA needs to learn how NOT to be a bully....the latest example we could set is in Honduras. Obama needs to label this a coup, illegal, and stop ALL aid to this country. THEN we would see Honduras get back to the rule of law and their constitution. It would also be an end to the US participation in overthrowing popular democratically elected leaders in South America. Why stop there? Why not close down the infamous School of the Americas right away?

But supporting the Honduran people would mean real change wouldn't it?

Buzz...Buzz...

Anti-Immigration=Higher Food Prices

You may want to grow your own tomatoes this summer.....peaches, oranges, lemons......etc. etc... The largest tomato grower in Pennsylvania is shutting down his operations due to inability to find the farm laborers to harvest his tomatoes. Ekel's farm supplied tomatoes to grocery stores and restaurants across the east coast.

I remember the last time we allowed the folks who wee here illegally to be given amnesty and allowed to become citizens. It didn't affect our pocketbooks and our economy grew.....there were no economic hardships due to the last amnesty. I think folks are creating more economic problems with their xenophobia.

Economist's Opinions about Immigration

In America, it seems the citizens usually hold a negative opinion about immigration throughout our history. The current debate, fueled by the corporate media, appears to be magnifying the negative opinion with few scientific facts illuminating the debate.

It's a sad statement on our current corporate media that they are not infusing the current dialogue with FACTS.

Since the economy is a major argument in the case against immigration (Illegal or Legal) then polls soliciting the opinions of economists are a factor that should not be overlooked in the debate about closing our borders and lowering the numbers of immigrants we will allow in.

Survey of Top Economists

   These are the full poll results:

On balance, what effect has 20th-century immigration had on the
nation's economic growth?


Economists     (percent)

Very favorable       80

Slightly favorable   20

Slightly unfavorable --

Very unfavorable     --

Don't know           --


What level of immigration would have the most favorable impact on
the U.S. standard of living?


Economists     (percent)

More           63

Same number    30

Fewer           0

Don't know      7


Do you feel that recent immigrants are qualitatively different in
economic terms than immigrants in past years?


Economists               (percent)

More negative impact     11

About the same impact    76

More positive impact     4

Don't know               9


What impact does illegal immigration in its current magnitude
have on the U.S. economy?


Economists                        (percent)

Illegals have a positive impact    74

Illegals have a neutral impact     11

Illegals have a negative impact    11

Don't know                                    4

(Source)